Thommanon Devata (sacred female image), Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon, Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Thommanon Kala image - This mythological animal with huge fangs and bulging eyes gives protective power and appears frequently on door lintels. This figure is also known as Rahu, the greedy asura (demon) who gulped the Elixir of Immortality from the Sea of Milk...but before he could swallow, the goddess Mohini (an avatar of Vishnu) lopped his head off! The result? A head that lives forever...and occasionally causes eclipses by eating the sun and the moon. Siem Reap - http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - "Vishnu Gajendramoksha" door lintel on the "mandapa." This illustrates the story of Vishnu saving Gajendra, Lord of the Elephants, from a vicious crocodile (seen below) that attacked him while he was drinking in a lake. Vishnu dragged the elephant out with the croc still attached and opened its jaws with a touch from his magic wand. But wait...is there a *mistake* in this carving? Gajendra the elephant is shown with three heads...the attribute of Airavata, the mount of Indra. Oops? Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - Inner door lintel of the "madapa" - "Vishnu garudavahana" - The god Vishnu is standing on his mount (vahana), the man-bird Garuda, who has his hands joined together in worship, Siem Reap, Cambodia - http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - Three devata (sacred female image), Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon Devata (sacred female image). Note the pleated, wrapped sampot style, rolled to open like a flower at the top. These represent a style seen on older Khmer temples. Also note that the women with the pleated skirts are represented at higher elevations at Thommanon, suggesting that these ancestors are perhaps being honored above the (contemporary) devata who appear in Angkor Wat style sampots below. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
This Thommanon Devata (sacred female image) in Angkor Wat style has some unusual features. First is the long stemmed bud or garland in her left hand. King Suryavarman II holds a similar object in his portrait at Angkor Wat. Her left hand holds three tubular objects that are rare at Angkor Wat. Chalk? A Vajra? Chimes? There are a mystery. Her stomach, unlike most of her friends, is distinctly marked with lines. Finally, in addition to 6 seed pods coming out of the bottom of her crown, we see two dangling jewelry items, possibly representing her rank. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Three Thommanon Devata (sacred female image). The two devata on the left have stomach markings. It is also interesting to note that this monument mixes sampot and crown styles. Perhaps this indicates a transition of power or religion in progress. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon Devata (sacred female image) detail of pleated sampot. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
This Thommanon Devata (sacred female image) in pleated sampot is particularly slender and her stomach is unmarked. She displays the devata mudra over her heart and by her side. Note that the toe of her right foot rests on the inner ankle of her left foot, a characteristic pose of many devata. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - Saint Andrew's Cross spiders (Argiope species) are common in the Khmer temples. They are thus named because they wait for prey in the "X" position. The theory about the additional webbing in the cross shape is that it makes them look even bigger to scare away predators. They are harmless to humans and drop to the ground when scared. This is a female, by the way...the males are much smaller and less colorful. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
This Thommanon Devata (sacred female image) is also holding three mysterious rod-like objects with the "devata mudra." She is holding them with her left hand, and her stomach is unmarked (the previous devata holds them with her right hand and has a marked stomach). Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
A Thommanon Devata (sacred female image) with pleated sampot and marked stomach holding her mudra over her heart. And there to the left we see yet another faceless devata holding three unidentified rods. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Khmer style false door at Thommanon, Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Three Thommanon Devata (sacred female image), Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Perhaps the most beautiful Devata at Thommanon, with a leaf-like structure in the center of her crown. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon Devata (sacred female image). The delicacy of her hand is a legacy of the Khmer carver's skill...more than 900 years later. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Devata at Thommanon, Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
A clear look at the height difference between traditional pleated skirt style Devata (center) and Angkor Wat style (left and right), at Thommanon , Siem Reap, Cambodia. http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon Devata (sacred female images), Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon Devata with triple flower crown and three flower spires in a floral sampot. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - Two devata (sacred female image) in different styles: at left the folded sampot (skirt) is common at Angkor Wat; on the right, a pleated style that is less common there. Both devata display a characteristic mudra with both hands. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - An exquisite devata (sacred female image) with pleated sampot (skirt) in fine detail. Note that her left and right hand grip flower stems with the distinctive devata mudra using the ring and middle fingers while the index and small finger are extended. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon - Eight devata (sacred female image) on the southwest corner of the central building. Siem Reap, Cambodia http://www.Devata.org
Thommanon Devata (sacred female image) in Angkor Wat style with triple lotus crown with flower spires and a halo of 12 seed pods. Siem Reap, Cambodia - http://www.Devata.org
